Constipation is a common problem in people of all ages. There’s a pantry staple that can also help you safely and healthily relieve constipation: olive oil.
Medical News Today explains that the fats in olive oil can help soften the inside of the intestine, facilitating the evacuation of stool. It can also help stool retain more water, keeping it softer.
Olive oil can help with constipation while providing phenolic compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Olive oil has mild laxative effects to facilitate the expulsion of feces according to various studies. A study published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition showed that the daily use of olive oil is as effective as mineral oil in the treatment of constipation in patients undergoing hemodialysis .
Another study published in the World Journal Gastroenterology indicates that softening laxatives soften the stool by forming an emulsion of the stool with lipids and water. Olive oil and sweet almond oil can work as softeners if their intake exceeds the absorption capacity of the small intestine.
Olive oil enemas can also work in cases of constipation. severe chronic in children. But babies and children with constipation should not take olive oil.
How to use olive oil for constipation
The doctor Bindiya Gandhi suggests through Mind Body Green to use extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) since it is a minimally processed and unrefined product. Drink a tablespoon of oil in the morning on an empty stomach.
Be careful not to consume an excessive amount of olive oil or it could cause diarrhea or stomach upset.
On a regular basis, consume enough fiber and lots of fluids can make stool softer and easier to pass. Insoluble fiber can help you with your constipation, it is found in whole grains, such as wheat bran and oat bran; vegetables; carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes.
Men should consume around 28 grams of fiber per day and women around 25 grams. Fiber sources are whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
Approximately 16 of each 100 adults have symptoms of constipation, according to data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases and Renal. If dietary changes along with physical activity or over-the-counter medications don’t work, you probably need medical attention.
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